Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Portable Paper-Based Immunoassay Combined with Smartphone Application for Colorimetric and Quantitative Detection of Dengue NS1 Antigen
Published on: January 26, 2024
Patterns of disease in Sri Lankan dengue patients
G N Malavige1, P K Ranatunga, V G N S Velathanthiri
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Sri Lanka.
Insights
This study highlights that secondary dengue infections in children significantly increase the risk of developing severe dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Oral candidiasis was also observed in children with dengue, a novel finding requiring further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Dengue is a major global mosquito-borne viral illness, predominantly affecting children.
- Limited prospective data exists on clinical and laboratory findings in South Asian pediatric dengue cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize clinical disease patterns in hospitalized children during a significant dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 104 children hospitalized with dengue during a three-month epidemic were studied.
- Clinical data and dengue serology were analyzed to differentiate primary and secondary infections and dengue fever (DF) from dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
Main Results:
- Of 104 children, 18 had DF and 86 had DHF (grades I-IV).
- Secondary dengue infections were more common in DHF cases (68) compared to DF cases (5).
- Children with secondary dengue infections had a 9.8 times higher odds of developing DHF. Oral candidiasis was noted in 19 children.
Conclusions:
- Findings underscore the importance of understanding pediatric dengue disease patterns for health planning and global trend analysis.
- The novel observation of oral candidiasis in dengue patients warrants further research into its role in dengue pathogenesis.
Background:
Dengue is the most important mosquito borne viral infection in the world. Nearly 90% of infections occur in children. At present, prospective information on clinical and laboratory findings in South Asian children with dengue is generally lacking.
Aim:
To describe patterns of clinical disease in a cohort of children hospitalised with dengue during a major dengue epidemic in Sri Lanka.
Results:
A total of 104 children were studied during a three month period. Eighteen had dengue fever (DF) and 86 had dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Of those with DHF, 34, 23, 27, and 2 had DHF grade I, II, III, and IV respectively. Based on dengue serology testing, 13 of the DF patients had a primary infection and 5 had secondary dengue infections. In contrast, 68 of the children with DHF had secondary and 18 had primary dengue infections. Oral candidiasis was seen in 19 children. The odds ratio for children with secondary dengue infection to develop DHF was 9.8 (95% CI 3.1 to 31.2).
Conclusion:
Studies on patterns of paediatric dengue disease in different regions should help clinicians and health administrators make more informed and evidence based health planning decisions. It should also help towards mapping out dengue trends on a global scale. Oral candidiasis has not been previously documented in children suffering with acute dengue in Sri Lanka or elsewhere. Studying underlying reasons for this manifestation during future dengue epidemics may provide useful leads in understanding overall dengue pathogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Malaria
01:25Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
01:18Yellow Fever
01:22American Trypanosomiasis